Hey there, unicorns! 👋

Here's what we're diving into today:

🦄 Case Study: Intercom's Growth Playbook

From growth loops to retention and their CARE system, we're revealing Intercom's growth secrets to driving engagement and revenue.

📈 The 1970s Ads Playbook: Keeping It Real

Discover how 70s advertising reflected shifting cultural norms and increasing consumerism.

🧠 The Halo Effect: Mastering Cognitive Bias in Marketing

Learn practical strategies for leveraging this powerful principle in your marketing.

Grab your coffee and let's dive in!

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Growth Playbook

🚀 Intercom's Growth Journey: From A Coffee Shop Idea to $1.3B Unicorn!

Intercom grew from a simple coffee shop idea to a $1.3B unicorn.

But how did they manage to grow so fast?

Here's the TL;DR on the key ingredients:

📝 Content Marketing Mastery

Intercom's biggest growth lever?

High-quality, audience-focused content!

By establishing their "Inside Intercom" blog as a go-to resource, they built a content empire that drove organic traffic and positioned them as trusted experts.

🔄 Smart Growth Loop

Intercom's embedded growth loop was pure genius!

Every customer became a brand ambassador, exposing their visitors to Intercom through the messaging widget and fueling a powerful acquisition engine.

👩‍💻 Customer Obsession

Intercom's north star?

Delivering exceptional customer value!

Every strategy and hire revolved around this unwavering commitment, guiding them to growth success.

📘 Product Education Prowess

Most startups neglect it, but Intercom went all-in on a world-class product education squad.

This laser focus on activation, adoption, and retention was their growth nitrous.

📈 Hyper-Personalized Segmentation

Intercom got granular, analyzing individual behavior to create ultra-personalized customer journeys that maximized lifetime value.

Ready to dive deeper into Intercom's awe-inspiring growth story?

👉 Click here for the full, mind-blowing growth playbook!

Ad Playbook

History of Advertising: The 1970s 🎨

The 1970s 🕺 were a time of shifting cultural attitudes, bold fashion statements, and iconic advertising. 

Brands experimented with provocative messaging and edgy designs to capture the attention of an increasingly cynical "Me Generation."

Let's dive into a few standout ‘70s ads:

🍔 Burger King "Have It Your Way"

Burger King's massively successful "Have It Your Way" campaign positioned the fast food chain as a champion of individual choice and customization.

The ads tapped into the Me Decade ethos of personal freedom and self-expression with lighthearted visuals and catchy jingles.

By inviting customers to "hold the pickle, hold the lettuce," Burger King not only differentiated itself from McDonald's' "one size fits all" approach - it made personalization a key part of its brand identity.

💻 Apple II "How to Buy a Personal Computer"

Apple's early ads for the Apple II computer took an educational, informative approach to demystify a new and unfamiliar technology.

With clear, benefits-focused copy, the ad lays out the advantages of owning a personal computer - from household budgeting to gaming - and assures readers that "getting started" is easier than they think.

By positioning the Apple II as an approachable, user-friendly tool for everyday life, Apple helped launch the personal computing revolution - and established itself as a leader in the field.

🥃 Coca-Cola "Have a Coke After"

Coca-Cola's "Have a Coke After" campaign takes a grittier, more mature approach than the brand's usual messaging.

With stark visuals and wry copy, the ad acknowledges the hangovers and hard truths that often follow a night of drinking and socializing.

By presenting Coke as a small but meaningful comfort in the face of life's challenges, the ad creates a powerful emotional connection with the "real-world" experiences of its audience.

The 70s: Keeping It Real

From the personal freedoms promised by Burger King to the technological revolution offered by Apple, 70s advertising reflected a society in flux.

And as the social consciousness of the 60s gave way to the individualism of the Me Decade, ads began to take a more frank, unvarnished approach - as seen in Coke's nod to the morning after.

Despite all their differences, the most memorable ‘70s campaigns had one thing in common:

A keen understanding of the cultural moment and an ability to tap into the wants and needs of the time.

Stay tuned for our next chapter, where we'll explore how advertising adapted to the affluence and excess of the 1980s!

Marketing Psychology Playbook

🧠 The Halo Effect

Ever wonder why some brands seem to have an unfair advantage when it comes to customer loyalty?

The secret lies in a fascinating cognitive bias called the Halo Effect.

What is it? 🤔

The Halo Effect occurs when our overall impression of a brand influences how we perceive its individual products or services.

If we've had a positive experience with a brand in the past, we're more likely to view their other offerings in a positive light, even if we haven't tried them before.

How does it work? 🧠

When we have a positive experience with a brand, our brains release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin.

This creates a strong association between the brand and those warm, fuzzy feelings, leading us to make quick judgments about the brand's overall quality and trustworthiness.

Why is it important? 💡

By taking advantage of the Halo Effect, you can create a loyal customer base that trusts your brand and believes in the quality of your products or services.

This can lead to increased sales, positive word-of-mouth, and long-term success.

Who's doing it right? 🌟

Apple

Apple's sleek designs and seamless ecosystem create a powerful halo effect that extends across its entire product line. 🍎

Amazon

Amazon's obsessive focus on customer service and personalized recommendations creates a halo of convenience and trust. 📦

Want to learn more? 📚

👉 Check out more examples and our full article on the topic! 👈